| Area: | 623 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | North: tropical wet-dry, south: tropical wet; one rainy season: March-November |
| Population: | 3.48 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 340 (1995) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; land-locked country |
| Logistics: | Roads inadequate during rainy season; river transport important |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, tree nuts, coarse grain, fruits |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: May-July |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 21 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Reflecting adequate growing conditions, crops are generally developping satisfactorily. Following an above average cereal harvest in 1997, the food supply situation is satisfactory. Refugees from Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Chad reside in the Central African Republic.
For the 1998 marketing year (January/December), the cereal import requirement is estimated at about 40 000 tonnes, mainly wheat.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | - | 6 | 95 | 101 |
| Normal Imports | 30 | 4 | 4 | 38 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 1998 Domestic Availability | - | 11 | 121 | 132 |
| 1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 17 | 121 | 138 |
| 1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 11 | 121 | 132 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 Utilization | 30 | 16 | 125 | 171 |
| Food Use | 29 | 14 | 102 | 145 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 1 | 2 | 18 | 21 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 Import Requirement | 30 | 5 | 4 | 39 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 30 | 5 | 3 | 38 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| of which: Delivered | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 8 | 4 | 29 | 42 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1997 production as % of normal: | 137 | |||
| 1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 103 | |||
| 1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 100 |
